Freemasons’ hall put on the market
A rule in the constitution of New Zealand freemasonry has halted plans for the Mokoreta branch to gift its hall to the Wyndham and Districts Historical Society.
The society needs a new building for its museum as its current site is an earthquake risk and not open to the public. A rebuild on existing land is also an option being considered by the society.
Mokoreta Lodge No 63 secretary Jimmy Walker said members wanted to gift the hall to the society for a transaction fee of $1 and then operate the branch form the Masonic Lodge in Invercargill. ‘‘That’s what we want to do,’’ Walker said.
‘‘We want to help the museum . . . do something for the community. If it doesn’t happen we’ll stay.’’
New Zealand freemasonry rules state, if a lodge intends moving premises, its building must be sold and all money from the sale given to The Grand Lodge of New Zealand.
The hall, owned by the Mokoreta Lodge, has been listed for sale with Southern Wide Real Estate.
A rare feature of the lodge’s temple is a square area made of small tiles. The square is called a pavement and members stand on it during
ceremonies. Walker said it was a tradition not to make freemasonry activities public, but he believes the mindset is softening. He can understand the public’s perception of freemasonry being a secret society. ‘‘When I became a master I was going to tell the public in a community bulletin about things we did, but I was told not to.
‘‘Freemasons do a lot of good things
. . . they gave $3 million to help build the Starship Children’s Hospital. They’ve given millions towards scholarships [for students].’’
The annual Mokoreta Lodge bowling tournament has raised more than $30,000 in the past 20 years for the Southland branches of Hospice and Multiple Sclerosis Society. Last year the society received $3800, which was made up of $1900 from the tournament and a matching $1900 from The Grand Lodge of NZ.
Walker was 16 when he had his first contact with freemasonry. It was during his courting days with wife, Lorna, when the couple spent many Saturday nights at dances in the Masonic Lodge in Invercargill.
Lorna’s uncle, Tommy Lawrie, was freemason in the city.
Walker joined the Mokoreta Lodge in 1986 after a conversation with member Graeme Leitch. Both men worked in the Wyndham volunteer fire brigade at the time – Leitch being fire chief and Walker the deputy.